Since the fearless and unique Mr. Chatterbox announced his very own Best Of picks, how could I resist picking my own? There must be a best of second-tier list somewhere. Certainly we all have our own best of lists--some unique and some worthy of their own holidays. Heck, if there is a National Stinky Cheese Day, Cherry Turnover Day and--wait for it--Swiss Winegrowers Day, Sarasota deserves a special list of Best Ofs that didn’t  quite make the magazine.

Best cheap burger with the most “worth it” calories: Grass-fed burger stand downtown Saturday Farmer’s Market

Best Bad Attitude of a Restaurant: Sorry, I am not allowed to say, but they do wear their honor well.

Best Egg Salad Sandwich on Toast (add a side of bacon on top): Where Elvis ate, of course. Edith Barr Dunn got me hooked years ago

Best Place to Meet a Gourmet Chef: Shamrock Bar cookouts.

Best Jewish Deli: Still in NYC

Best Coffee-Flavored Yogurt that Really Tastes Like Coffee (eaten after shopping at Target on Fruitville): Orange Leaf

Best Restaurant to Take Norman and RJ, the Dogs: A tie between Gecko's on Hillview (they each get their own water bowl) and Taste of Asia--they get a standard order of rice with chicken broth, hold the chopsticks.

Best Good News About the Restaurant Scene: Good Chinese is coming this year!

Best Excuse I've Heard for Closing a Restaurant: “I thought the landlord was going to finance it”

Best Place to Order One Meal and Feed Your Cul de Sac: Country Pancake House on Lakewood Ranch

Best Oyster shooter with Bloody Mary Foam: The Table

Best Place to Spot a Cardiologist Eating Lunch: JR’s Packinghouse

Best Bang for Your Buck: A full basket of pick-your-own tomatoes at Hunsader farms-$1.00

Do you have a quirky "Best Of"? Let me know by clicking on the comment button.

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